Snow Threatens Rescue After 7.0 Quake

Intermittent snow is forecast for the next three days in northern Tibet, a weather condition that will complicate the ongoing rescue operations following a magnitude 7 earthquake. The seismic event struck on Thursday evening, killing at least 16 people and injuring 46 others.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at 10:33 p.m. local time. It occurred at a depth of 18 kilometers. The epicenter was located 191 kilometers east-northeast of the city of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, high-altitude area. Nagqu sits more than 300 kilometers north of Lhasa, the regional capital.

Local officials reported the heaviest damage around Nagqu. The city media office stated that 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed. Among the 46 injured, 11 are in serious condition while 35 suffered minor injuries. Search and rescue teams are still working through the affected zones.

More than 1,600 personnel from the local county have been deployed to the site. Relief supplies have already arrived in the region. These include 1,000 prefabricated housing units, approximately 3,000 tents and folding beds, flashlights, and winter clothing. These items are critical for residents who have lost their primary shelter.

Infrastructure has also been affected by the shaking. Xinhua, the state news agency, reported that communications are down in parts of the area. Railway authorities stopped trains from passing through the zone. Rockfalls forced the closure of a section of National Highway 317. Only emergency and official support vehicles are currently permitted to travel through while crews clear the debris.

CCTV identified this as the largest earthquake to hit the region in five years. The next few days will be critical for the recovery effort. Snow is expected to fall intermittently across the quake zone, potentially slowing the movement of rescue workers and equipment.